Ribbon-type device

Abstract

A ribbon-type device effects undulation of a curtain for gathering the same in the vertical or horizontal direction. A functional unit comprises two tapes of fabric, each of which extends in an undulating manner to form a plurality of alternating positively and negatively curved arcs. An arc of positive curvature of a first fabric tape is set so as to oppose an arc of negative curvature of a second fabric tape and an arc of negative curvature of the first fabric tape is set so as to oppose an arc of positive curvature of the second fabric tape. The two fabric tapes are joined to each other at each transition between an arc of positive curvature and an arc of negative curvature by means of tie-off stitching (tie-offs). A plurality of such tie-offs accommodate a pull cord of a curtain.

Claims

1. A curtain comprising: a curtain material; a first pull cord; a second pull cord; a first ribbon device for effecting undulation of the curtain and accommodating the first pull cord; and a second ribbon device for effecting undulation of the curtain and accommodating the second pull cord, wherein each ribbon device comprises: a functional unit (160) comprising two fabric tapes (110, 120) wherein: two fabric tapes (110, 120) extend in an undulating manner to form a plurality of alternating positively and negatively curved arcs (111, 121, 112, 122); an arc of positive curvature (111) of a first fabric tape (110) is set so as to oppose an arc of negative curvature (122) of a second fabric tape (120) and an arc of negative curvature (112) of said first fabric tape (110) is set so as to oppose an arc of positive curvature (121) of said second fabric tape (120); the two fabric tapes (110, 120) are joined to each other at a transition between an arc of positive curvature (111, 121) and an arc of negative curvature (112, 122) by way of tie-off stitching (130) forming a plurality of tie-offs; and the plurality of tie-offs (130) accommodates an associated said first or second pull cord (140) of the curtain; and a tape of backing fabric (170) attached to the functional unit and to the curtain, the tape of backing fabric of the first ribbon device being separate from the tape of backing fabric of the second ribbon device.

2. The curtain as defined in claim 1, characterized in that: for each of the first ribbon device and second ribbon device, the curtain is attached to the respective tape of backing fabric by two parallel seams running parallel to the associated first or second pull cord.

3. The curtain of claim 2, characterized in that: for each of said first ribbon device and second ribbon device, said two parallel seams do not include the first fabric tape and the second fabric tape.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, characterized in that: said backing fabric (170) is interwoven with only one of said two fabric tapes (110, 120).

5. The device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that: said backing fabric (170) is interwoven with only one of said two fabric tapes (110, 120).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The device of the invention is explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the figure of the drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the ribbon-type device for effecting undulation according to the invention in a view taken obliquely from above.

(3) FIG. 2 is a detail of the preferred embodiment of the ribbon-type device shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a view taken obliquely from above of the ribbon-type device shown in FIG. 1 together with an non-gathered curtain.

(5) FIG. 4 is a view taken obliquely from above of the ribbon-type device shown in FIG. 1 together with an gathered curtain.

(6) Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The ribbon-type device 100 for effecting undulation according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1 represents an accommodation means for a pull cord 140 of a curtain for gathering the same in the vertical or horizontal direction and comprises a functional unit 160 comprising two tapes of fabric 110, 120.

(8) Each of the two fabric tapes 110, 120 extends in an undulating manner to form a plurality of alternating positively and negatively curved arcs 111, 121, 112, 122, an arc of positive curvature 111 of the first fabric tape 110 being set so as to oppose an arc of negative curvature 122 of the second fabric tape 120 and an arc of negative curvature 112 of the first fabric tape 110 being set so as to oppose an arc of positive curvature 121 of the second fabric tape 120.

(9) Furthermore, the two fabric tapes 110, 120 are joined to each other at each transition between an arc of positive curvature 111, 121 and an arc of negative curvature 112, 122 by way of tie-off stitching 130, the plurality of such tie-offs 130 forming an accommodation means for a pull cord 140 of a curtain. The tie-offs 130 are spaced from each other at equal intervals of approximately 1 cm.

(10) The warp threads of each fabric tape 110, 120 cross each other in the region of the tie-off stitching 130, and the two tapes of fabric 110, 120 are securely joined to each other by interweaving of the weft threads of each fabric tape. The two fabric tapes 110, 120 of the functional unit 160 are each made of soft multifilament yarns.

(11) The functional unit 160 comprising the two tapes of fabric 110, 120 is attached to a tape of backing fabric 170 that has a larger width than the two tapes of fabric 110, 120 and that is intended for application of the functional unit 160 to a curtain. The backing fabric 170 comprises robust monofilaments, the diameter of which is larger than that of the multifilament yarns in the fabric tapes 110, 120 of the functional unit 160.

(12) The functional unit 160 is attached to the backing fabric 170 by interweaving of the arcs of negative curvature 112, 122 of any one of the two tapes of fabric 110, 120 with the backing fabric 170, whilst the other of the two fabric tapes 110, 120 of the functional unit 160 is not interwoven with the backing fabric 170, so that an isolated arc of negative curvature 112, 122 is formed.

(13) The functional unit (160) of said two fabrics (110, 120) is attached to a tape of backing fabric (170) so as to form a plurality of isolated arcs. The length of an arc can be variably predefined for different curtains, in order to predefine the folds formed in a curtain.

(14) The curtain material 180 is attached to each tape of backing fabric (170). The curtain material is attached to the tape of backing fabric (170) in that the curtain material is sewn to the backing fabric (170) by means of two seams 190A, 190B running parallel to said pull cord. The seams do not include said two fabrics (110, 120).

(15) The exemplary embodiment of the invention explained above merely serves the purpose of providing better comprehension of the teaching of the invention defined in the claims, which teaching is not, as such, restricted to the exemplary embodiment.